Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering

Carol Bult

Biosketch

Our research program focuses on two major areas: bioinformatics and developmental genomics. In the area of bioinformatics we focus on building information systems that can facilitate the use of the laboratory mouse as a model system for understanding normative biology and disease processes in humans. We are members of the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) consortium and work collaboratively with other investigators at The Jackson Laboratory to build and maintain databases that contain the most comprehensive collection of integrated functional genetic and genomic data for the laboratory mouse available in the public domain. In addition to the MGI information system, we also maintain the Mouse Phenome Database, which contains baseline phenotype measurement for hundreds of traits across scores of inbred lines of mice. Recent projects include the release of a comprehensive gene catalog for the reference mouse genome assembly and the release of MouseCyc, a database of curated biochemical pathways in the laboratory mouse.

In the area of developmental genomics, we are working in collaboration with Dr. Isaac Kohane (Children’s Hospital Boston) to use an understanding of the molecular genetics of normal lung development in mouse as a framework for identifying key genes and pathways in lung diseases such as cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. Recent projects include generating an integrated data set of mRNA and microRNA profiles over several key developmental time points in murine lung development.

Research Interests

My research group focuses on two major areas: bioinformatics and developmental genomics.

In the area of bioinformatics we build information systems that integrate diverse genetic and genomic data to facilitate the use of the laboratory mouse as a model system for understanding normative biology and disease processes in humans. My group is a member of the Mouse Genome Informatics consortium at The Jackson Laboratory which hosts the Mouse Genome Informatics database (http://www.informatics.jax.org).

In the area of developmental genomics, our goal is to use molecular genetics of normal lung development in mouse as a framework for identifying key genes and pathways in lung diseases such as cancer and pulmonary fibrosis.